We use cookies to help our site work, to understand how it is used, and to tailor the adverts presented on our site. By clicking "Accept" below, you agree to us doing so. You can read more in our cookie notice. Or, if you do not agree, you can click “Reject” below.

“Spain is different,” went the old no-nonsense advert. Yet it’s true – and perhaps nowhere more so than with the Spanish national infatuation with good food and dining.

So, if you’re thinking of visiting Spain and want to eat like the locals, these guidelines will give you a little flavour of what to expect.

Meal times – dining in the dark

One of the things that many Brits find hardest to get used to is the fact that Spaniards love to eat late at night. Whereas in the UK many of us eat dinner at six or seven o’clock, in Spain you’ll be lucky to find anywhere open before eight PM. Indeed, the rule in Spain seems to be “the later the better” with many families arriving at restaurants between 10 and 11pm.

In the south at least, there’s a very good reason for this: the fierce heat of the day has subsided, making al fresco dining more pleasant.

Another reason may be that lunch, which is often the main meal of the day, also tends to be a lengthy affair and people just need some time to digest their food.

But with three hour “lunch breaks” who could blame them?

And don’t expect to eat quickly – anything less than a couple of hours for dinner is considered rushed by Spanish standards.

Related articles

Everyone knows about Spanish favourites such as paella, gazpacho and tortilla, but did you know that these are just the tip of the culinary iceberg?

Most traditional food in Spain is cooked fresh and features a dizzying variety of meats, vegetables and seafood.

Jamon serrano (air cured ham) is a major staple, as is the dish albondigas con tomate (meatballs in tomato sauce) – but every region has its favourite dish and the contrast between one place and another can be vast.

Advertisement

Getty

Taking anything less than a couple of hours for dinner is considered rushed by Spanish standards

Children and restaurants

Unlike in the UK, children are usually very welcome in Spanish restaurants.

For Spaniards eating out is a family affair so you’ll need to get used to children running around in restaurants as their parents relax over dinner.

Menu-wise, children are not usually treated as any different to adults, with nary a kids’ meal in sight, although there are usually plenty of desserts and ice creams on offer to tempt them.

If you bring your own child to a restaurant expect them to be cooed over by the waiters and showered with lollipops.

Spanish Holiday hotspots

La Concha Bay, San Sebastian

Getty Images

The old city of Toledo

Getty Images/EyeEm

The Alhambra Palace in Granada

Getty Images

Santiago de Compostella, a religious site visited by pilgrims who walk hundred of miles

Getty Images/age fotostock RM

Gaudi's unfinished cathedral, the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona

Getty Images

Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias in Valencia

Getty Images/AWL Images RM

The Boqueria Market in Barcelona

Getty Images

The beaches of the Costa Del Sol

Getty Images

UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Grand Mosque of Cordoba

Getty Images

The Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao

Getty Images

Giralda and Cathedral of Sevilla

Getty Images

The running of the bulls in Pamplona

Getty Images/National Geographic

Go for the Menu del Dia

If you’re serious about going native and saving money at the same time you’ll want to check out the menu del dia (menu of the day).

Often, this is not written anywhere and you’ll be subjected to a verbal torrent by the busy waiter as he lists the choices on offer – so listen.

It may be the cheapest way to eat, but the menu del dia will feature the exact same ingredients as some of the more expensive menu items, and you’ll usually get three courses with bread and a drink for between €8 and €14.

Another tip if you want to eat well on a budget is to seek out the Spanish equivalent of a greasy spoon café. The venta or comedor, is there to serve great food to blue collar workers, such as builders and truck drivers. But don’t expect a lessening of quality; these establishments serve hearty traditional meals, often with a glass of wine.

Getty

Most traditional food in Spain is cooked fresh with a variety of meats, vegetables and seafood

Tapas – not just olives on sticks

Some regions of Spain serve a free tapa with every drink you buy, but this is not the case everywhere.

Quality varies from one establishment to the next, but bars do compete on the quality of their tapas so it pays to be choosy.

Generally speaking, the more drinks you order, the better the tapas becomes.

The first plate might be something simple, such as a plate of olives or a few slices of serrano ham. Keep drinking, and by the fifth glass of vino tinto or cerveza you can expect sizzling dishes of gambas al pil pil (prawns fried in garlic) or chipirones (small fried squids).

If you’re still hungry you can order a racione (ration), which is like a larger tapas dish.

Tip: you don’t need to order an alcoholic drink to get tapas, order a mosto (grape juice) or a cerveza sin (non-alcoholic beer).